Neha Vats | Medical Physics | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Neha Vats | Medical Physics | Best Researcher Award

Heidelberg University | Germany

Dr. Neha Vats is a postdoctoral researcher in Medical Imaging and Spectroscopy at the Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany, with a strong research foundation in MRI, CT, and multinuclear MRS. Her expertise lies in quantitative image analysis, medical image processing, and the development of advanced imaging protocols. She has contributed significantly to translational neuroimaging and oncology through the optimization of CT perfusion techniques and neurochemical imaging in psychiatric populations. Her scholarly output includes five peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Scientific Reports and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, addressing topics like pancreatic CT perfusion standardization, perfusion model development, and machine-learning-based tumor differentiation. According to her Scopus profile, she has 5 documents, an h-index of 4, and 28 citations, reflecting strong research visibility and growing academic impact in biomedical imaging. Dr. Vats’s technical proficiency spans MATLAB, C++, perfusion mathematical modeling, and quantitative neuroimaging, with research interests focusing on advanced spectroscopy methods and metabolic brain characterization. Her ongoing projects on ME/CFS and aggression-related brain changes exemplify her commitment to integrating imaging physics with neuroscience for clinical translation and sustainable advancements in medical diagnostics.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Research Gate 

Featured Publications

Vats, N., Mayer, P., Kortes, F., Klauß, M., Grenacher, L., Stiller, W., Kauczor, H.-U., & Skornitzke, S. Evaluation and timing optimization of CT perfusion first pass analysis in comparison to maximum slope model in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 10865.

Skornitzke, S., Vats, N., Mayer, P., Kauczor, H.-U., & Stiller, W. Pancreatic CT perfusion: Quantitative meta-analysis of disease discrimination, protocol development, and effect of CT parameters. Insights into Imaging, 14, Article 1471.

Vats, N., Sengupta, A., Gupta, R. K., Patir, R., Vaishya, S., Ahlawat, S., Saini, J., Agarwal, S., & Singh, A. Differentiation of pilocytic astrocytoma from glioblastoma using a machine-learning framework based upon quantitative T1 perfusion MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 97, 63–71.

Skornitzke, S., Vats, N., Kopytova, T., Tong, E. W. Y., Hofbauer, T., Weber, T. F., Rehnitz, C., von Stackelberg, O., Maier-Hein, K., & Stiller, W. Asynchronous calibration of quantitative computed tomography bone mineral density assessment for opportunistic osteoporosis screening: Phantom-based validation and parameter influence evaluation. Scientific Reports, 12, Article 20478

Meijing Piao | Cell Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Meijing Piao | Cell Biology | Best Researcher Award

Jeju National University | China

Dr. Meijing Piao is a Research Professor at Jeju National University’s Jeju Natural Medicine Research Center, specializing in the study of environmental pollutants such as fine particulate matter, ultraviolet radiation, and nanoparticles, focusing on their molecular mechanisms and oxidative stress–related effects on the human body. Her work also explores the physiological activities of natural products and their defense mechanisms against oxidative damage. She has authored 163 SCI-indexed publications, including 39 as first author and 124 as co-author, accumulating 4,985 citations according to Web of Science. Her research excellence has been recognized globally, ranking among the “Top 2% of Scientists in the World” by Stanford University and Elsevier. Two of her highly cited papers include one on silver nanoparticles’ cytotoxicity in human hepatocytes, cited 585 times, and another on the skin damage caused by ultrafine particulate matter, cited 271 times. Her research outcomes have also led to seven patent applications and substantial contributions to the field of environmental toxicology and natural product pharmacology. With 15 completed and one ongoing research project funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea, her work demonstrates strong continuity, impact, and innovation, significantly advancing knowledge in life science and toxicological research.

Profile: Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

Piao, M. J., Kang, K. A., Lee, I. K., Kim, H. S., Kim, S., Choi, J. Y., Choi, J., & Hyun, J. W. (2011). Silver nanoparticles induce oxidative cell damage in human liver cells through inhibition of reduced glutathione and induction of mitochondria-involved apoptosis. Toxicology Letters, 201(1), 92–100.

Piao, M. J., Ahn, M. J., Kang, K. A., Ryu, Y. S., Hyun, Y. J., Shilnikova, K., Zhen, A. X., et al. (2018). Particulate matter 2.5 damages skin cells by inducing oxidative stress, subcellular organelle dysfunction, and apoptosis. Archives of Toxicology, 92(6), 2077–2091.

Zhang, R., Piao, M. J., Kim, K. C., Kim, A. D., Choi, J. Y., Choi, J., & Hyun, J. W. (2012). Endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling is involved in silver nanoparticles-induced apoptosis. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 44(1), 224–232.

Kim, K. C., Kang, K. A., Zhang, R., Piao, M. J., Kim, G. Y., Kang, M. Y., Lee, S. J., Lee, N. H., et al. (2010). Up-regulation of Nrf2-mediated heme oxygenase-1 expression by eckol, a phlorotannin compound, through activation of Erk and PI3K/Akt. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 42(2), 297–305.

Kang, K. A., Piao, M. J., Ryu, Y. S., Hyun, Y. J., Park, J. E., Shilnikova, K., Zhen, A. X., et al. (2017). Luteolin induces apoptotic cell death via antioxidant activity in human colon cancer cells. International Journal of Oncology, 51(4), 1169–1178.

Yasser Alraey | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Yasser Alraey | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

king Khalid university | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Yasser Alraey is a distinguished senior microbiologist and assistant professor of tropical medicine with over 16 years of laboratory‐based and academic experience. He has developed deep expertise in molecular diagnostics, vector-borne diseases, metagenomics, epidemiology, parasites and vectors, quality management, and lab leadership. His roles have spanned from medical lab technologist to head of flow cytometry and histopathology labs, through to his current clinical duties and academic leadership at King Khalid University and in senior specialist laboratory roles in Abha. Holding a PhD from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, along with MSc and BSc qualifications, he also earned a Clinical Laboratory Leadership & Management Certificate from AACC. Dr. Alraey has supervised and taught extensively, contributed to departmental administration, and managed multiple research projects including work on cutaneous leishmaniasis, molecular detection in stray animals, COVID-19 diagnostics, and antimicrobial resistance. He has published a substantial body of work in peer-reviewed journals, Include Scopus with 37 documents and 467 citations to his name, giving him an h-index of 12, reflecting his wide impact in tropical medicine and molecular microbiology. He is a motivational leader, methodical multitasker, and an inspiring communicator committed to high quality in laboratory services and education.

Featured Publications

Alraey, Y., Alshahrani, A., Alshahrani, T. S. M., Al Draim, N. H. A., Sumayli, A. A., Mana, A. M., Alqahtani, A. A., AlAbdullah, M. S., Mjrashi, A. M., Alqhtani, S. J., et al. (2025). Unveiling risk factors and sandfly ecology in cutaneous leishmaniasis-endemic areas of the Asir Region, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Infection and Public Health. Advance online publication.

Bharadava, K., Upadhyay, T. K., Kaushal, R. S., Ahmad, I., Alraey, Y., Siddiqui, S., & Saeed, M. (2024). Genomic insight of Leishmania parasite: In-depth review of drug resistance mechanisms and genetic mutations. ACS Omega, 9(1), Article e3C09400.

Al Shahrani, M., Gahtani, R., Abohassan, M., Alshahrani, M., Alraey, Y., Dera, A., Asiri, M. R., & Rajagopalan, P. (2024). High-throughput computational screening and in vitro evaluation identifies 5-(4-oxo-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-yl)-2-[3-(4-oxo-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-yl) phenyl]-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione (C3), as a novel EGFR-HER2 dual inhibitor in gastric tumors. Oncology Research, 32(1), Article 043139.

Siddique, S., Chaudhry, M. N., Ahmad, S. R., Nazir, R., Javed, R., Hafeez, M. R., Alraey, Y., Sivasamugham, L. A., & Mahmood, A. (2024). Risk surveillance with spatial distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from sedimentary samples of Chenab River. Science of the Total Environment, 924, 169256. x

Bajwa, A., Sadef, Y., Nazir, R., Zaheer, M., Siddique, S., Alismail, H. A., Sivasamugham, L. A., & Mahmood, A. (2024, December). Integrated risk assessment and human health hazards via dietary intake of OCPs from cereal crops cultivated across river Chenab. Emerging Contaminants.

Iwona Polak | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Iwona Polak | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn | Poland

Iwona Polak, M.Sc. Eng., is a researcher at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, specializing in the molecular biology of parasitic nematodes from the Anisakidae family. Her scientific contributions focus on unraveling the molecular and proteomic mechanisms of Anisakis simplex, a parasite of marine mammals that poses risks to human health. With 11 published journal papers indexed in Scopus and other scientific databases, she has developed a strong academic record supported by 75 citations on ResearchGate and 57 citations on Scopus, reflecting her growing influence in parasitology and molecular biology. Her h-index of 4 demonstrates the consistent impact of her research output within her field. Through advanced transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, particularly using NGS and LC-MS/MS approaches, Polak’s work provides key insights into host–parasite interactions and parasite adaptation mechanisms. She has collaborated internationally with the Marine Research Institute (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo, Spain, in proteomics research. With one ongoing research project and plans to defend her doctoral thesis in biological sciences, she continues to expand her scientific profile and contribute to developing innovative therapeutic and control strategies for anisakiasis.

Featured Publications

Polak, I., et al. (2025). Diversity, expression, and structural modeling of sugar transporters in Anisakis simplex s. s. L3 and L4 larvae: An in vitro and in silico study. BMC Genomics, 26, Article 12068.

Polak, I., et al. (2025). Coupled transcriptome and proteome analysis of L3 and L4 developmental stages of Anisakis simplex s. s.: Insights into target genes under glucose influence. BMC Genomics, 26, Article 12069.

Polak, I., et al. (2024). The response of Anisakis simplex (s. s.) to anthelmintics: Specific changes in xenobiotic metabolic processes. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 19, 80–92.